Northbridge Vietnam War Memorial damaged in accident

Friday

Mar 21, 2014 at 10:14 PM

By Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

NORTHBRIDGE — A freak accident caused by a coughing fit caused significant damage to the town's Vietnam War Memorial.

On Sunday, around 7:11 p.m., David Deyoung, 58, of North Main Street was driving east on Main Street into the Memorial Square area and suddenly had a coughing fit so intense that he briefly lost consciousness. He lost control of his car and crashed into the monument, said Police Chief Walter Warchol.

"(He) doesn't remember the accident," Chief Warchol said. "He woke up and couldn't get out. He had some pain. And there was damage to the monument."

Mr. Deyoung was transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester. Chief Warchol said Mr. Deyoung is not going to be charged in the accident, given that it was caused by a medical condition.

"It was something beyond his control," Chief Warchol said.

Meanwhile, Trustees of Soldiers' Memorials and members of the Department of Public Works are assessing the damage.

Mr. Deyoung's Ford F-250 destroyed the stone benches, tore up the pavers, broke the monument lights and damaged a life-size bronze sculpture of a helmet, boots and rifle.

The trustees are meeting Tuesday night to discuss the repairs.

"We definitely want to rebuild; we don't know what the damages cost yet," said Richard Trier, a trustee, adding that the trustees are working with Robert Van Meter, the highway superintendent, and the town, which is considering pursuing compensation through Mr. Deyoung's insurance.

"Thankfully, the most expensive part of the monument — the stone with all the names — was untouched. That would have been the most expensive piece to replace."

Two large black granite stones measuring 5½ feet tall by 7½ feet wide at the monument contain more than 400 names of local Vietnam-era veterans. They flank an 8-by-10-foot monolith.

The memorial was installed in 2011, after several years of fundraising started by the Blackstone Valley Nam Vets and completed by the Blackstone Valley Veterans Association

Contact Donna Boynton at Donna.Boynton@telegram.com or follow her on Twitter @DonnaBoyntonTG.